This is how much people need to earn to live in Mississauga, Brampton, Oakville or Burlington

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Published November 14, 2022 at 3:55 pm

living wage
Photo by Kampus Production

The cost of living across Ontario continues to rise but Mississauga, Brampton, Oakville, Burlington and GTA residents are seeing higher prices than other parts of the province.

Inflation sent food, gas and housing prices soaring in the last year and that is making it harder to stretch a paycheque.

According to the latest report from the Ontario Living Wage Network, Peel and Halton Region residents now need to earn $23.15 an hour to make ends meet. That’s up 17 per cent from $19.80 in Peel Region last year, and $20.75 in Halton.

The living wage is the hourly earnings someone needs to earn to have an income that covers their cost of living, according to the Ontario Living Wage Network. The report looks at the prices of food, shelter, clothing, transportation, education, child care, cell phone and other expenses.

While the cost of nearly everything increased, food saw one of the biggest jumps. Between April 2021 and April 2022 Statistics Canada reports the price of food increased by 9.7 per cent, which is one of the highest costs included in the living wage calculation.

People in Ontario’s north have the highest food costs but Hamilton and the GTA aren’t far behind. Child care costs are also higher in the GTA.

But housing prices are what hits GTA residents harder than other regions of Ontario. A family of four needs at least $27,224 to cover housing in the GTA, much higher than anywhere else in the province.

housing costs living wage

So it should come as no surprise that the GTA has the highest living wage rate across the province.

A study this summer found Mississauga was the most expensive city in Canada to live in when considering wages and living costs. What makes Mississauga so unaffordable, the study found, was the average net salary of residents in Canada’s seventh-largest city.

Mississauga residents bring home an average of $4,168.70 per month, placing it 17th on the list of the 20 cities included in the study.

Those looking to get ahead and find a more livable wage, can seek out employers who pay more.

The Ontario Living Wage Network certifies living wage employers and in Mississauga those businesses include Tompkins Canada Inc., City Pallets Inc., The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd., Permul Ltd., and Quintessential Canada Inc.

In Brampton, Cutter & Buck Canada and Up With Women are listed as paying a living wage.

In Burlington, Community Development Halton, Food for Life Canada Charitable Corporation, and Sugarmoon are on the list.

For a complete list, visit the Living Wage directory.

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